Rajiv Menon

“Minsara Kanavu' was a hit in the South, but not in the North.”

“When '36 Chowringhee Lane' was released in 1981, I was a student of the Film and Television Institute of Tamil Nadu. Everyone who had seen the film was very impressed with its flawless direction and acting. But we, cinematography students, were stunned by the visual style, which was truly international.”

“You know, writing isn't easy. It's tedious. Ideas have a gestation period, and after a while, it becomes difficult.”

“Filmmaking is a language where you empathise with human situations. Unless you have empathy for characters, you shouldn't be a filmmaker.”

“You have to keep the audience glued by hook or crook.”

“As an actor, one should be aware of all their capabilities. This is important, as films are becoming more realistic.”

“I don't have any romantic notions about villages.”

“I believe that films are meant for entertainment, but in that process, you have the possibility to think about what kind of entertainment you're giving to audiences.”

“For example, Taj Mahal is the first thing which comes to the minds of many foreigners who visit India, and how Eiffel Tower in Paris, but there is lot more to every country.”

“Sarvam'... has no gloss that you associate with my earlier work.”

“When you are shooting over a period of six months, you tend to forget how dark or bright it was. And when you are using different technologies, having a look book helps during the final grading of the film. So you can design what the film is going to look like even before the colouring process begins.”

“Films take us into an entirely different world, and that's why we must ensure that our long shots do justice.”

“Dangal' worked because it dealt with the universal emotion behind the father and daughter.”